Mavcom denies pressuring AirAsia, lodges police report against Fernandes

KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 — The Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) has lodged a police report against AirAsia’s Group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes over the latter’s multiple allegations against the commission.

In a press statement today Mavcom categorically refutes the accusation that it told AirAsia Berhad to cancel all 120 additional flights applied for by the airline during the 14th Malaysian General Election (GE14) period.

“The Commission had in fact approved all 66 additional flights which were applied for by AirAsia on 23 April 2018. The Commission has never issued any directive to AirAsia or any other airline to reduce or cancel any flights where regulatory requirements are met.

“Mavcom views Tan Sri Tony Fernandes’ claims as serious accusations and has lodged a police report,” said the statement, adding that the commission never summoned Fernandes to appear before them.

The commission was responding to Fernandes’ apology video for taking Barisan Nasional’s side and endorsing ousted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. In the video, Fernandes made the previous allegations against Mavcom.

It also explained that all extra flight applications received by the Commission are done through the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM).

On April 13 and April 18, the budget airline requested for a total of 54 additional flights (27 return journeys with a maximum volume of 13,660 passengers) to be operated during the election period, which Mavcom approved on April 17 and 18 respectively.

AirAsia then requested for an additional 86 flights (43 return journeys with a maximum volume of 15,480 passengers) on April 20 to be operated during the same period.

However, on April 23, the Commission received a revised flight application via e-mail from AirAsia for 66 additional flights (33 return journeys with maximum volume of 12,274 passengers) for the period of 6-13 May 2018.

The email superseded the previous application and said the previous request was to be disregarded.

The statement added that Mavcom chairman General Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Abdullah Ahmad (Rtd) had also communicated with all airlines to seek clarification if there was sufficient demand for the additional flights requested.

“The Commission further reiterates that it had not issued any directive to any airline to reduce or cancel any flights. Only AirAsia proceeded to reduce its application for extra flights while Firefly, Malaysia Airlines and Malindo Air maintained their requests.

“In light of the stated facts of the matter, the Commission views Tan Sri Tony Fernandes’ accusation against Mavcom of informing AirAsia to cancel “120 extra flights which would have carried 26,000 people on top of our normal flights” as baseless and malicious,” said the statement.